Eugene to host 2014 World Juniors

INDIANAPOLIS – An IAAF World Athletics Series event will come to the U.S. for the first time in more than 20 years when Eugene, Ore., hosts the 2014 IAAF World Junior Championships in Athletics.

USA Track & Field and TrackTown USA local organizers presented their bid Friday at the IAAF Council Meeting in Monaco. The Council unanimously awarded the Championships to USATF and Eugene early Friday afternoon.

The 2014 IAAF World Junior Championships will mark the first time the United States has hosted an IAAF World Athletics Series event since the 1992 IAAF World Cross Country Championships were held in Boston.

“We are proud to have this opportunity to bring the track and field world back to our shores and are grateful to our IAAF family members for awarding World Juniors to us,” said USATF President Stephanie Hightower. “As the country with the World’s No. 1 Track & Field team, we take our role in the international community very seriously, and we want to host events that serve and help athletes from around the world. With our partners in Eugene, we are thrilled to be able to do that in 2014.”

Known as Track Town USA, Eugene in 2012 will host its second consecutive U.S. Olympic Team Trials – Track & Field, and it is the site for many of the country’s and the world’s top meets. In addition to annually hosting the Nike Prefontaine Classic, part of the IAAF’s Diamond League series, Eugene in recent years has hosted the USA Outdoor Championships, NCAA Division I Championships and Pac-10 Championships.

Interim CEO of USA Track & Field Mike McNees responded to the announcement by saying, “We are thrilled to bring an international event to the U.S., and we couldn’t be more excited about working with our partners at the Eugene organizing committee as they evolve from a player on the national to the international stage of athletics.”

"We are incredibly thrilled and humbled by the IAAF's confidence to award the 2014 World Junior Championships to TrackTown USA,” said University of Oregon Associate Athletic Director Vin Lananna, who is also the Chairman of the Bidding Committee. “Bringing this prestigious event to the U.S. and Historic Hayward Field is a tremendous honor for our community and the State of Oregon.

"Our successful bid was the culmination of the combined efforts of the University of Oregon, the State of Oregon, USATF, the United States Olympic Committee, Oregon Track Club and the citizens of TrackTown USA. The ongoing collaboration between these organizations will produce an unforgettable 2014 IAAF World Junior Championships and will continue to raise the profile of track & field in the United States."

One of the IAAF’s most prestigious events, the World Junior Championships have provided the global coming-out party for the athletes who become the sport’s biggest stars, including Jesse Williams, Allyson Felix, Sanya Richards and Usain Bolt.